Thread: Phx Suns to Wear "Los Suns" to Make Statement

Phoenix to wear 'Los Suns' jerseys for Game 2 vs. Spurs
Suns owner Robert Sarver issues statement on new Arizona immigration law


by Paul Coro - May. 4, 2010 02:45 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Phoenix Suns made a bold statement Tuesday denouncing the controversial new immigration bill that recently was signed into law.

In announcing that the Suns would wear their "Los Suns" jerseys in recognition of Cinco de Mayo for Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Managing Partner Robert Sarver also addressed the immigration bill that has been a divisive national topic since Gov. Jan Brewer enacted it into law April 23.

"The frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the issue of illegal immigration resulted in passage of a flawed state law," Sarver said in a statement released by the Suns on Tuesday morning. "However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question, and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."

The bill, SB1070, makes it a crime for a person to not have immigration documents and empowers law enforcement agencies to question the status of people based on "reasonable suspicion."

After the Suns won their first-round series in Portland on Thursday, Sarver made the decision that he wanted the Suns to wear the orange "Los Suns" jerseys, which Phoenix wore in two March home wins for the NBA's Noche Latina marketing. In a team meeting at Sarver's house Saturday, the players were unanimously in favor of wearing them on Cinco de Mayo, Sarver said by phone.

"I looked around our plane and looked at our players and the diversity in our organization," Sarver said. "I thought we need to go on record that we honor our diversity in our team, in the NBA and we need to show support for that. As for the political part of that, that's my statement."

Sarver's displeasure with SB1070 is two-fold. The Arizona native primarily disputes the infringement of people's rights but also is concerned about the effect it will have on the state's economy.

"I don't think it's the right way to handle the immigration problem, No. 1," Sarver said. "No. 2, as I read through the bill, it felt to me a little bit like it was mean-spirited and I personally just don't agree with it. In addition, one of the main priorities right now for our state is to get jobs for people. The enactment of this bill just puts us farther behind the eight-ball in attracting companies to do business here and I think it will have a negative economic effect and a negative effect on our ability to create jobs for people who are looking for work.

"Hopefully, it's all going to get worked out and the federal government will step in and there'll be a national solution. I realize that immigration is a problem and we have issues that need to be dealt with. I just don't think this bill accomplishes that."

The Suns had to get league approval to wear the jerseys for Game 2 of their second-round NBA playoff series, which Phoenix leads 1-0.

"There are times you need to stand up and be heard," Sarver said. "I respect people's views on the other side but I just felt it was appropriate for me to stand up and make a statement."

Suns co-captain Steve Nash has no problem expressing his political views under the basketball spotlight. He once wore a "No war. Shoot for peace." T-shirt during 2003 All-Star Game interviews.

"It's a clear-cut issue for me," Nash said. "I don't agree with this bill. I don't agree with the spirit of the bill or the message it sends, not only to people in our community but how it represents our community across the country and the world.

"I think the bill opens up the opportunity for racial profiling, racism. I think it puts the police in an incredibly difficult position that isn't fair to them. It's an infringement on our civil liberties to allow the possibility for equality to arise in our community."

The San Antonio Spurs wanted to be a part of the Suns' statement Wednesday but could not get the "Los Spurs" jerseys to do it in time.

"It's a wonderful idea because it kind of shows what we all should be about," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Sure, there needs to be a lot of work done, obviously. A lot of administrations have done nothing about the immigration deal and now everybody's paying the price, especially a lot of people in Arizona. That's a bad thing but the reaction is important too. This reaction, I agree with Mr. Sarver, is inappropriate. It's kind of like 9-11 comes and all of a sudden there's a Patriot Act, just a knee-jerk sort of thing and it changes our country, what we stand for. This law smacks of that to some degree. So I think what he's doing tomorrow night is very wise and very correct."

Suns Ring of Honor member and Valley resident Charles Barkley also weighed in on the immigration bill during a national radio interview Tuesday on the Dan Patrick Show.

"Living in Arizona, I'm disappointed that we came up with the law," Barkley said. "But we need to do two things. We need to find a way to get these immigrants their citizenship, that's the first thing, is to find a way to help them get citizenship. I'm very disappointed in John McCain. He used to be somebody I really admired and respected. The second thing, to me, would be very simple. Anybody who hires immigrants, you just fine them. They're not working for other immigrants. Fine and penalize the people they're working for, because most of those immigrants here are busting their hump, doing a great job, and to go after them every couple years because you want to raise hell doing something to get re-elected, that's disrespectful and disgusting."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... rseys.html

and to think, i use to like the phoenix suns
and the spurs for that matter.

hey guys, keep the politics out of the sports arena forever

What does diversity have to do with the rule of law? You either abide by the laws or you don't. What possible rationale would anyone have to defend people who willingly, knowingly and disrespectfully break a multitude of laws???

This guy doesn't have a clue. He's just like the politicians, so far removed from American neighborhoods and people who share day to day worries about their jobs, their kids, and their future.

Someone like that has no business pontificating about poor immigrants. There are no poor immigrants unless you count the ones who are waiting their turn in other countries, paying attorney fees and praying to come to America soon.

Those are the people who deserve our sympathy, and respect for the patience they show while reading about marches and threats from illegals in our streets demanding, always demanding.

"The frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the issue of illegal immigration resulted in passage of a flawed state law," Sarver said in a statement released by the Suns on Tuesday morning. "However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question, and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."

It seems there are many talking bobble heads try to ram home the thought that only the federal government has the power and ability to protect the citizens of this country, as if the states have no role to play. Perhaps the apple cart is shaking?

is it time to write teh NBA and let them know what an American citizen boycott will do to their attendance ?

I thought the whole idea was competitive team sports, not carrying some mantra of approval for illegal activity.

This pissed me off so bad... these athletes live in gated communities, go out in public with body guards; what the hell do they know about the REAL WORLD?

Drop the Suns a line here:
http://www.nba.com/suns/contact/contact_us.html

Perhaps on a related note, I've heard that, statistically, NBA fans are the least likely to vote.

Sarver is just like any other Elitist as long as they financially benefit from their ILLEGALS they are not concerned about our nation. Drugs furnished by the ILLEGALS, Drug Wars by the ILLEGALS, United States Citizens murdered by the ILLEGALS but not to worry the Sanctuary City of Phoenix will continue to furnish Cheap ILLEGAL Labor for the Elitist Political Contributors and Special Interest Groups who of course they feel safe in their Gated Communities. If you venture out and you are murdered by an ILLEGAL Drunk Driver or you are a Police Officer murdered by an ILLEGAL during the commission of a crime or a traffic stop or a United States Citizen is in the "wrong" place (Sanctuary City of Phoenix) and caught in the cross fire just remember Our Elitist Politicians and their Elitist Political Contributors consider these murdered as a SMALL SACRIFICE for THEIR CHEAP LABOR!